Waymo Operations exists to deliver the Waymo Driver to the world. We are a global team building and scaling the world's first and leading autonomous fleet and operations platform. From component sourcing to end customer management, we enable and create value for Waymo through scaled and orchestrated deployment of the Waymo Driver. At Waymo, we are dedicated to building a culture that promotes collaboration and celebration. We value our team members' unique backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences and support and encourage all team members to share their ideas to help Waymo better serve the communities in which we operate.

In this hybrid role you will report to our Head of Supply Chain and Fleet Operations.

You will:

• Support the Supply Chain of both complex EE (custom & off the shelf) and highly engineered ME components.
• Collaborate closely with Engineering, Supply Chain manufacturing and quality, finance, and other Waymo teams supporting Strategic Capex and NRE projects.
• Serve as local voice for Waymo Supply Chain in Japan, and a core partner to Engineering and Product teams, guiding complex sourcing decisions and technology selections to help achieve the needed goals for Waymo. 
• Define, design, and execute multi-year sourcing strategies for key commodities in Japan and elsewhere in APAC that align with Waymo's technical roadmap and business objectives.
• Drive all aspects of supplier negotiation, including market intelligence, cost modeling, pricing, supply agreements, and contracts (SOWs/MSAs) to ensure best-in-class cost, quality, and supply assurance.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers, leading regular business reviews to align on strategy, manage performance, lead various on-site audits, and drive continuous improvement.
• See a commercial, technical, communication, or negotiation challenge and problem solve it.
• Conduct supplier on site visits and audits 
• Support our Engineering partners with supplier selection and strategy 
• Design the supply chain for Prototype and Production phases 
• Develop program budgets, cost models, and bottoms up cost calculations 
• Manage supply contract negotiations 
• Resolve and escalate material supply gaps escalations

You have:

• 10+ years of experience in a supply chain, mechanical engineering, or similar role.
• A BS in Mechanical Engineering, or a similar discipline. MS or MBA are a plus.
• Experience with multiple commodity types and manufacturing processes such as plastic injection molding for cosmetic and structural applications, die casting, metal stamping and forming, CNC machining, weldments, assemblies, wire harnesses, and cleaning systems and components.
• Sourcing experience with custom and off the shelf EE components. 
• Comprehensive knowledge of low and high volume manufacturing processes for these component types.

We prefer:

• Hands on experience with mechanical design work or manufacturing of parts in your area of expertise.
• Experience having taken products through a manufacturing life cycle and delivered finished designs in volume production.
• Clear communication skills, along with excellent presentation and problem solving experience.
• Experience and ability to change between detailed and high level strategy thinking.

Travel requirement:

• 30% - Travel includes Japan domestic and international locations such as Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, China.